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The Washington Nationals racing presidents continued to cement their position as DC icons with an appearance in yesterday’s National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade.

The presidents were decked in their Nationals uniforms and got to ride in style on the back of individual bicycle taxis.

It was a rare opportunity for the racing presidents to appear with the blooming cherry blossoms. Nationals Park, of course, has a much-touted row of cherry blossom trees in the centerfield plaza, but the team has yet to play a regular season game when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. With this year’s home opener scheduled for April 13 and a rainy week in the forecast, it seem likely we’ll have to wait another year to witness that spectacle.

The appearance by George, Tom, Abe, and Teddy came just hours before the first unofficial presidents race of the 2009 Nationals Park season. Last night’s annual preseason game vs. the Baltimore Orioles offered no hints that the presidents race will play out any differently for poor Teddy. He had an early lead, but failed to even finish as George Washington took the tape handily.